Hinged-flap button.



L. A. PIGHON 6: C.-M. V. ALLENOU.

HINGED FLA? BUTTON APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 190B.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

LOUIS AUGUST PICHON, 0F PARIS, AND CHARLES MARIE VICTOR ALLENOU, OFVILLE DAVBAY, FRANCE.

HINGElD-FLAP BUTTON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIS AUoUsT PI- CHON and CHARLES MARIE VICTORALLENOU, both citizens of the French Republic, and residents,respectively, of Paris, France, and Ville dAvray, France, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Hinged- Flap Buttons, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hinged flap buttons and hasfor its object to provide buttons, of this character, wherein the flapsare effectively held in either position of adjustment without beingpivoted or otherwise permanently secured to the shank of the stud.

A further object of this invention is to provide a button, of thischaracter wherein a simple form of means is employed for maintaining theflap in a downward or closing position.

The invention will be more fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawing and will be more fully pointed out and ascertainedin and by the appended claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hinged flap buttonembodying the main features of our invention and showing the flaps in adownward or closed position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the formshown in Fig. 1 with the flaps in an upward or open position. Fig. 3 isa per' spective view of'a slightly modified form of the invention. Figs.1 and 5 are plan views of a further modification of the invention withthe flaps shown in two positions of adjustment. Fig. 6 is an enlargedvertical sectional view of the form shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation thereof.

Like numerals of reference designate similar parts throughout thedifferent figures of the drawings.

Referring first to the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shank 5 of thebutton is provided with a shouldered head. As illustrated, the shank 5is reduced at 14 to provide shoulders or seats 15 on opposite sidesthereof. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 6, the reduced head 14L isprovided with parallel sides and is of uniform cross-section throughoutits height and is unprovided with the usual head or enlargement at thetop.

Hinged flaps are designated by numerals 1 and 7 and are provided withelongated openings 3 near their base. The inner base portions 16 lieagainst the head 14 and upon the shoulders 15 and the same act asfulcrum points on which the flaps may be swung from closed to openedpositions or vice versa. The flap 1 is provided with a retaining lug 2which is bent upwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is adapted to lieupon the upper base of the flap 7 to hold the flaps 1 and 2 in closed ordownward position. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the lug 2extends laterally abreast of one end of the heads 14:. The margin 17 ofthe opening 8, of the flap 1, inclines inwardly toward the heads 14toward that side of the flap 1 on which the lug 2 is disposed forpurposes which will presently appear. Springs 6 are secured on oppositesides of the shank 5 and extend upwardly through the openings 3 andslightly overlap the base portions of the flaps 1 and 7 as clearly shownin Fig. 1. The upper free ends of the springs 6 serve to hold the bases16 against the heads 14: and the slightly overlapping ends of thesprings 6 serve to hold the base portions of the flaps 1 and 7 upon theshoulders 15 in order to prevent them from slipping up on the heads 14.-so as to be out of engagement with the springs. As will be seen byreference to Fig. 1 the springs are somewhat reduced in width withrespect to the length of the openings 3 so as to permit the latter to bemoved longitudinally along the heads 14. The inclination of the margins17 causes the flaps 1 to normally assume the position shown in Fig. 1thereby bringing the lug 2 against or adj acent the left end of theheads 14:-

When it is desired to swing the flaps 1 and 7 from the position shown inFig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the flap 1 may be moved to theleft so as to displace the lug 2 laterally out of engagement with theflap 7, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 whereupon both flaps can beturned upwardly into the open position shown in Fig. 2. When it isdesired to turn the flaps down into a closed position, as shown in Fig.1, a lateral movement to the right will be imparted to the flap 1, afterthe flaps are in a horizontal po sition, so as to bring the lug 2 inoverlapping relation with respect to the flap 7 thereby locking theflaps 1 and 7 in a horizontal position. It will be seen that pivots andother positive securing means are entirely avoided and thereby thebutton is greatly simplified, the same merely consisting of the shank,flaps and spring.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the flaps 1 and 7 are provided with a lug 2and the lugs 'are disposed on opposite sides of the head 14 and adjacentthe end thereof. Each flap on that side opposite the lug 2, is recessedto permit of engagement of the lugs 52 with the upper end of the shank5. The marginal portions 17 and 18, which may be consldered straightedges are inclined in opposite directions and when it is desired toraise the ends of the flaps into an open position the same are shiftedin opposite direc tions so as to bring the lugs 2 out of vertical alinenent with the top end portions of the shank 5. This permits the flaps 1and 7 to turn into an upward position.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the head 19 is provided with recessedportions 12 and 13. The base portion 8 isprovided with projectingportions 9 and 11 and a recessed portion 10. A lug 4 engages the side ofthe studs 19 and rests upon the upper end thereof. The spring 6 projectsthrough the opening in the flap and engages the inner margin thereof ina manner similar to the construction hereinbefore described. Theinterfitting portions serve to prevent accidental lateral movement ofthe flap and serve to maintain the lug 4 in engagement with the shoulderof the head 19. hen it is desired to turn up the flap the same isshifted laterally until the lug 4 is out of engagement with the shoulderof the head 19 whereupon the flap may be swung into an upward or openposition.

We claim 1. A hinged flap button comprising in combination, a shankprovided with an elongated head reduced on opposite sides to formshoulders and of uniform cross section throughout its height and width,a flap seated on each side of said head and bearing upon said shoulders,each flap having an elongated opening near its base portions with onemargin of one opening inclined, one of said flaps having a retaining lugadapted to lie upon the upper face of the 0 companion flap to preventupward movement of said flap, and springs secured to said shank andprojecting through the openings of said flaps and overlapping the baseportions thereof to hold said flaps against said head and upon saidshoulders, one of said springsbeing reduced in width with respect to thelength of its respective openings to permit such flap to be shifted todisengage its lug from the companion flap, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. A hinged flap button comprising in combination, a shank provided withan elongated head reduced on opposite sides to form shoulders and ofuniform cross section throughout its height and width, a flap seated oneach side of said shank and bearing upon said shoulders, eachflap havingan elongated opening near its base portion and one of said flaps havinga retaining lug adapted to lie upon the upper face of the companion flapto prevent upward movement of said flap, and springs secured to saidshank and projecting through and engaging the inner margins of saidopenings to hold said flaps against said head and upon said shoulders,one of said springs be ing reduced in width with respect to the lengthof its respective opening to permit such flap to be shifted to disengageits lug from the companion flap, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

3. A hinged flap button comprising in combination, a shank provided withflap seats on oppositesides thereof, a flap on each side of said shankbearing on said seats, each flap having a straight edge near its baseand one of said flaps having a retaining lug adapted to lie upon thecompanion flap to prevent upward movement of said flaps, and springssecured to said shank and engaging said straight edges to hold saidflaps against said shank and upon said seats, said lug flap beingadapted for lateral movement with respect to said shank and with respectto its spring to disengage said lug from said companion flap,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A hinged fiap button comprising in combination, a. shank providedwith flap seats on opposite sides thereof, a flap on each side of saidshank bearing on said seats, each flap having a straight edge near itsbase and one of said flaps having a retaining lug adapted to lie uponthe companion flap to prevent of upward movement of said flaps, andsprings secured to said shank and engaging said straight edges to holdsaid flaps against said shank and u on said seats, the straight edge ofsaid lug aps being inclined to normally bring said lugs into engagingposition with said companion flap, said lug flap being adapted forlateral movement with respect to said shank and with respect to itssprings to disengage said lugs from said companion flap, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

5. A hinged flap button comprising in combination a shank provided withflap seats on opposite sides thereof, a flap on each side of said shankbearing on said seats, each flap having an elongated opening near itsbase portion, and one of said flaps having a retaining lug adapted tolie upon the upper face of the, companion flap to prevent upwardmovement of said flap, and springs secured to said shank and projectingthrough and engaging the inner margins of said openings to hold saidflaps against said seats, said springs extending beyond the upper basesofsaid flap in overlapping relation therewith, one of said springs beingreduced in width with respect to the length of the respective opening topermit such flap to be shifted to disengage its lug from the companionflaps, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A hinged flap button comprising in combination, a shank provided withflap seats on opposite sides thereof, a flap on each side of said shankbearing on said seats, each flap having a straight edge near its baseand one of said flaps having a retaining lug adapted for engagement witha portion of the button, and springs secured to said shank and engagingsaid straight edges to hold said flaps against said shank and uponsaidseats, said lug flap being adapted for lateral movement with respect tosaid shank and with respect to said spring to disengage said lug andpermit of upward movement of said flap, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

7. A hinged flap button comprising in combination, a shank provided withflap seats on opposite sides thereof, a flap on each side of said shankbearing on said seats, each flap having a straight edge near its baseand one of said flaps having a retaining lug adapted to engage a portionof the button to prevent upward movement of such flap, and springssecured to said shank and engaging said straight edges to hold said flapagainst said shank and upon said seats, the straight edge of at leastone of said flaps being inclined, and said lug flap being adapted forlateral movement with respect to said shank and with respect to itssprings to disengage said lug, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twowitnesses.

LOUIS AUGUST PICHON.

CHARLES MARIE VICTOR ALLENOU. Witnesses:

HENRY MoRLn'r, HENRI DU COUEDIC DE HERGOUALER.

